I dropped about 20 pounds in the blink of an eye. And then when you see it in the mirror, when all of a sudden, you pull your eyes down and the bottom of your eyes go yellow and jaundice sets in -- then you know something's wrong. Swayze realized that he needed medical attention. This is not a good thing. Doctors found that the actor had a malignant tumor in his midsection and a tiny mass on his liver.
Pancreatic cancer is extremely difficult to diagnose, and only after a battery of procedures over several days were his doctors able to make a definitive diagnosis: Stage 4 pancreatic cancer. Swayze wanted to keep the secret as long as possible while he and his wife decided how to proceed, but the news of his life-threatening illness broke early last year when tabloids reported he had only five weeks to live.
Although the majority of patients with advanced stage pancreatic cancer die within six months of the diagnosis, Swayze told Walters his response to the diagnosis was, "Watch me! You watch what I pull off.
Fifty percent of people, when they're diagnosed, the cancer has already spread to other organs, and there's almost no chance of cure with current treatments. For Swayze, surgery to remove the cancer was not an option because it had spread to his liver.
He embarked on an aggressive course of traditional chemotherapy along with the experimental drug Vatalanib.
Beating the odds, Swayze has lived with his cancer for a year and has stayed out of the spotlight, except when he appeared on the televised "Stand Up to Cancer" fundraiser last September.
Now, with the book set for release, Lisa is proud of her effort, both for the comfort it might offer other families touched by cancer and for the opportunity for reflection that it has provided. I worry: Did I say too much? Reveal too much? Like any work, you have put your heart and soul into it. In addition to sharing insight into her journey as a caregiver through her book, Lisa hopes to help patients and families affected by pancreatic cancer by advocating for much-needed research and for awareness of the disease.
In she became national spokesperson for the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network www. The decision to become an active public advocate was an easy one, Lisa says. Her efforts have led to increased awareness of the disease and have educated the public about the urgent need for additional research funding that will ultimately lead to improved patient outcomes. Her public persona draws much-needed attention to our mission, and she inspires others to get involved with our efforts and make a difference.
In caring for Patrick during his illness, in learning how to care for herself, in growing and sharing, and in embracing her role as an advocate, Lisa continues to honor the love that she and her husband shared and tries to learn from what she has been through. Though he never wanted to be defined by the disease, Lisa says, his approach to his diagnosis is representative of the person he was. The spirit of his work and the way he fought his cancer came from that wonderful person that he was.
What is the pancreas and what is pancreatic cancer? The pancreas is a gland located deep in the abdomen. It is surrounded by the stomach, small intestine, liver, and spleen. The pancreas has two main functions. One is the exocrine function, which involves the production of enzymes that help in digestion. The second is the endocrine function, which involves the production of hormones, including insulin and glucagon. When cells in the pancreas grow out of control, a tumor develops.
In most cases of pancreatic cancer, the cells that line the pancreatic duct are involved. This type of pancreatic cancer is an exocrine tumor known as adenocarcinoma. A less common type of pancreatic tumor begins in the islet cells of the pancreas, the cells that produce hormones, and is known as a neuroendocrine, or islet cell, tumor.
What are the symptoms of pancreatic cancer? The symptoms are vague and often also indicate a number of other conditions. These recipes focus on antioxidant-rich foods to better protect you and your loved ones. Sign up and get your guide! National Cancer Institute. Cancer stat facts: pancreatic cancer. American Cancer Society. What is pancreatic cancer? Reviewed February 11, Pancreas cancer-associated weight loss. John Hopkins Medicine. Pancreatic cancer symptoms. Signs and symptoms of pancreatic cancer.
Revised February 11, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Smoking and cancer. Reviewed April 2, Pancreatic cancer risk factors. Revised June 9, Pancreatic cancer treatment. Published February 3, Treating pancreatic cancer, based on the extent of cancer.
Revised January 2, Phase II trial of vatalanib in patients with advanced or metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma after first-line gemcitabine therapy PCRT O Cancer Chemother Pharmacol. Your Privacy Rights. To change or withdraw your consent choices for VerywellHealth. At any time, you can update your settings through the "EU Privacy" link at the bottom of any page.
These choices will be signaled globally to our partners and will not affect browsing data. We and our partners process data to: Actively scan device characteristics for identification. I Accept Show Purposes. Table of Contents View All.
Table of Contents. A large number of patients never make it to these centers," said Chari. Patients in new drug trials are given the experimental drug in addition to whatever the standard therapy is. We'll notify you here with news about. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest?
When Swayze was diagnosed, he was given a few months to live. Comments 0. Top Stories. Frustration, defiance in village to be abandoned to the sea Nov 11, PM.
0コメント